Column: Delhi needs a common-sense trustee

Sep. 13, 2013

Don Jasper Community Press guest columnist

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Candidates in contested local races are invited to submit a guest column to the Delhi Press. The guidelines: • Columns must be no more than 500 words. • Columns must include a color head shot (.jpg format) and a short bio of the author. • Candidates are limited to one column before the election. • The deadline for columns to appear in print is noon Thursday, Oct. 17. No columns will run the week before the election (Oct. 30 edition). • All columns will run online at Cincinnati.com. Print publication depends on available space. • Email columns to delhipress@communitypress.com or rmaloney@communitypress.com. Include a daytime phone number for confirmation.

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As a lifelong resident of 42 years, I have a vested interested in Delhi Township.

My mother is a lifelong resident of Delhi, my father, a retired Delhi policeman, has spent all but the first five years of his life living in Delhi. Both sets of my grandparents were active in our community helping to develop Delhi and their parish, St. Dominic into what they are today. Four of my five brothers and sisters still call Delhi home. My past, my present and most importantly, my future is Delhi.

My career background for the past 25 years has been in residential and commercial construction. When the economy went south, the construction industry went way south, I found a new career in the snack food distribution industry. I have been managing and leading companies for the last 15 years, I understand what it takes to lead.

Did I make some mistakes along the way, yes. Were there some rough times along the way, yes. Most importantly I learned thru the mistakes and those hard times. I became a better person, husband, father, manager and leader. Without challenges in life we become complacent, nothing to drive us to improve who we are.

As my three kids have been active in youth sports, my wife, Missy, and I have been active in those arenas as well. Like many other dads in Delhi, I’ve coached teams for the last 12 years; I have been on the board of the Delhi Athletic Association as president, vice president and president emeritus. I have been around families who have experienced the same difficulties as my family: job loss, property values dropping, demographics changing, rising safety concerns, expenses rising, income dropping; etc… Families today are concerned about the direction Delhi is headed.

Through the years I’ve had the privilege networking with a huge number of Delhi residents of all different backgrounds. What I’ve learned in my conversations with many is that we are all concerned about the direction of Delhi’s future. What I’ve also heard from many of you, is that we need strong leadership to get us through these changing times.

I believe this township needs a trustee from the trenches; a candidate to represent the common Delhi resident; a candidate who has proven leadership qualities; a candidate who is not afraid to do what is right, what is best for Delhi even if it causes some feathers to be ruffled; a grass roots type of candidate. It is my intention to be just that, a down to earth, common sense trustee to represent you, the people of Delhi.

I ask that you please vote for me, Don Jasper, as your next Delhi trustee Nov. 5.